First Baptist Church in Monterey recently got in the Christmas spirit by packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, whose National Collection Week is fast approaching. Scheduled Nov. 13-20, National Collection Collection Week is a time when churches and other locations will open their doors for individuals to bring in the packed shoe boxes filled with hygiene items, school supplies and toys. From there, the boxes are shipped to a distribution site for processing before they are delivered to millions of children around the world, many of whom have never received a gift before and have very little to call their own. “A global movement begins this week across the US and seven other sending countries, millions are focused on making a difference in the lives of children facing difficult circumstances,” Operation Christmas Child Senior Domestic Director Randy Riddle said in a news release. “What a joy to be a part of something bigger than ourselves like Operation Christmas Child. Giving such simple gifts like those found in shoeboxes mean the world to children with great need and it’s something we can all do.” More than 100,000 volunteers including families, churches and other groups are joining forces to contribute to … [Read more...]
Bossier Schools and LC ink dual enrollment partnership
By Bossier Parish Schools communications BOSSIER CITY - Students attending Bossier Schools will soon have the opportunity to take academic courses never before offered, thanks to a dual enrollment agreement the district has entered into with Louisiana College in Pineville. Bossier Schools Superintendent Scott Smith and Louisiana College President Rick Brewer made the agreement official during a signing ceremony Nov. 8. Beginning in spring 2018, Bossier Parish students will have the chance to take online courses offered by Louisiana College and earn regular college credit prior to graduation from high school. A few of those courses include Art and Music Appreciation, Finite Math, Civilization I and II, Survey of the Old and New Testaments and Economics, among nearly two dozen others. “Our goal is to provide as many opportunities for our students as we can and this partnership with Louisiana College gives Bossier Schools the chance to do that,” said Superintendent Smith. “We are grateful to Dr. Brewer and his administrative team for working with us to make this partnership a reality to benefit the students of Bossier Parish.” Louisiana College also discounted the rate per three-hour course to $100, yet students will … [Read more...]
A Veterans Day tribute – thank you for your sacrifice
By Huey P. O'Neal WEST MONROE (LBM) – On Veterans Day, Americans honor all U.S. veterans, both living and dead, for their sacrifices in protecting the greatest country in the world. At exactly 11 a.m., each November 11th, a color guard, made up of members from each of the military branches, renders honors to America’s war dead during a heart-moving ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. The president or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb and a bugler sounds Taps. The balance of the ceremony, including a “Parade of Flags” by numerous military veterans’ organizations, takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the Tomb. The bloodshed and sacrifice for our freedom began in 1776 when representatives of the 13 original colonies signed the Declaration of Independence to obtain freedom from the British. Many of the 56 signers -- educated men, and a good number having faith in God – were willing to sacrifice everything for our freedom to worship God and to achieve God-given goals. In the context of this legacy of sacrifice, American veterans have met major challenges for the past 241 years to protect our freedoms. Notably, the U.S. Constitution is based on biblical … [Read more...]
Louisiana’s Kennedy working with Senate Finance Committee to save adoption tax credit
By Michelle Millhollon, Office of U.S. Sen. John Kennedy WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has been in talks with and has sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), strongly urging him to maintain the Adoption Tax Credit when the committee moves forward on tax reform legislation. “I believe that an important part of being pro-life is being pro-adoption," Kennedy said. "With so many children in need of loving families, we should do everything in our collective power to make the adoption process more accessible and affordable for families who want to provide a caring home to these children. The adoption tax credit goes a long way towards achieving that goal.” The complete letter is shown below: November 8, 2017 The Honorable Orrin Hatch Senate Committee on Finance 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-6200 Dear Chairman Hatch, Since 1997, the Adoption Tax Credit has encouraged families to consider adoption by increasing its affordability. I strongly encourage you to maintain the Adoption Tax Credit when the Senate Committee on Finance moves forward on tax reform legislation. Adoption typically costs a family … [Read more...]
Baptism service a family reunion
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer COUSHATTA (LBM) – The baptistery at Liberty Baptist Church in Coushatta was the perfect setting for a recent reunion of people close to James Hester, pastor of Social Springs Baptist Church in Ringgold. Hester cancelled Sunday evening services for his Ringgold congregation, Sept. 28, to be at the Coushatta church in order to baptize his mother, LaWanda, with the blessing of Liberty Baptist Pastor Harry Bamburg. Then Hester was blessed to witness the baptism of his brother Jerry, nephew Zach and his nephew’s wife Jessica, all officiated by Bamburg. A MOTHER’S JOY “My heart was full and I was in awe of the goodness and faithfulness of our awesome God, and so thankful for His amazing grace,” Hester said. “She has lived longer than either of her parents and I thank God daily for Christian parents who raised me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Hester said he praised God for the honor of baptizing his mother, and that his mom told him hers was “an even greater honor – being baptized by the youngest of her five boys.” “God is good,” he told the Baptist Message. A SON’S LOVE The catalyst for the multiple baptisms was a revival Sept. 3-10 at Social Springs … [Read more...]
Sam White will be a tall act to follow at Tall Timbers
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer WOODWORTH (LBM)--Sam White had planned on a long career in the Air Force but an Experiencing God class changed his path, eventually leading him to manage the Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. Now, after 16 years as director of the Louisiana Baptist camp, White is stepping away for a new adventure, retirement, starting Dec. 1. “I never saw a career in camping coming,” White told the Baptist Message. “I saw the Air Force as my career and planned to stay in a lot longer than I did, until God changed my direction. On a human level it didn’t make sense but we all know that isn’t how God works. Now, looking back on these years at Tall Timbers and another stop before that, we could see God’s hand at work in our lives.” A native of Bienville, at the tender age of eight years old White humbled his heart and surrendered his life to Christ. Although White planned to complete a 30-year career in the Air Force, God changed his plans. After taking an Experiencing God class in February 1994 at Central Baptist Church in Clovis, N.M., Sam and his wife Kay believed God was telling them to give up the Air Force career and seek a new direction. Months later, God used the testimony of … [Read more...]
Brewer’s contract extended as reward for LC revitalization
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer PINEVILLE (LBM) – Citing an increased enrollment and the addition of new academic programs and scholarships, the Louisiana College Board of Trustees has extended President Rick Brewer’s contract through 2022. Board Chairman Randy Harper said during the school’s Oct. 30 news conference that the board unanimously approved the two-year increase during its April 2017 board meeting, but because of a new one-day format for the April meeting, he and the board selected the Oct. 30 board meeting to make the announcement public, deciding it was the more opportune time for most trustees, students, faculty and staff to attend. “We are grateful for Dr. Brewer’s leadership,” said Harper, pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City. “He is a leader who has more energy than probably five freshmen of the school. He works tirelessly. He believes in Christian education and liberal arts education and in raising and preparing graduates to transform lives with a Christian worldview.” Since Brewer was elected unanimously as president in April 2015, he has led the school from probationary status into good standing with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on … [Read more...]
Mandeville disaster relief team an answer to Texas lady’s prayers
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BEAUMONT, Texas (LBM) - When the team from First Baptist Church in Mandeville arrived in late September at a site hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, they simply were obeying God’s command to serve victims of the devastating storm. But for Gaylynn Johnson, a resident of Beaumont, Texas, the work crew was God’s answer to her prayers. “I’m so glad to see you!” she recalled was her greeting to the team. The storm’s torrential rain had caused flooding more than three feet deep inside her home (and it was two weeks before the water receded), destroying most of her possessions. “We had been hoping for someone to come and help us,” Johnson told the Baptist Message. “Someone just called to tell me that help was on the way, and I got over there [work site] right away.” MEN AT WORK Moments after that greeting, Johnson said, the team got right to work, putting on respirator masks while conducting a tour of the damage. Although she and her husband had removed all the damaged furniture, clothing and other items, a putrid stench persisted, she remembered. Larry, an electrician, was unable to assist the Mandeville team during work hours, Gaylynn said, but he contributed to the … [Read more...]
LC offers free tuition to missionary dependents
By Norm Miller, LC News PINEVILLE - Louisiana College trustees voted unanimously in their October 30 meeting to offer free tuition to the dependents of missionaries serving the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. “We are honored to assist our IMB families who make such a sacrifice for the sake of the gospel around the world,” said trustee chairman Randy Harper, pastor of Bellaire Baptist Church in Bossier City. “Though the eternal rewards of such servants are in heaven, we all have a responsibility to help meet the temporal needs of those who leave the familiarity of home to brave the foreign fields of ministry.” Harper said the decision “continues the consecutive string of unanimous votes” among LC’s trustees since March 2015, when Rick Brewer was elected president. “The addition of missionaries’ dependents to our student body will enrich our campus culture and literally ‘flesh-out’ the reality of what it means to be on mission with God,” Brewer said. “For those students who have never served on an overseas or stateside mission trip, the concept of missions is just that: conceptual. But with the children of missionaries among our student body, missionary service becomes much more tangible,” … [Read more...]
Past, future part of YEC 30th anniversary
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer LAFAYETTE (LBM) – A sense of nostalgia is sweeping through the state as Louisiana Baptist youth and adult leaders prepare to take part in the 30th anniversary of the Youth Evangelism Celebration, a statewide assembly focused on preparing the next generation to share Christ with the world. Scheduled Nov. 19-20 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists will celebrate its storied history filled with changed lives while equipping students with the necessary tools to share their faith with their classmates. Since the first YEC in 1988, 141,002 students and adult sponsors have passed through the turnstiles of venues hosting the event, known as YEC, Louisiana Baptist Convention Youth Strategist Steve Maltempti told the Baptist Message. Over the years, 9,815 participants have made spiritual decisions, including 3,205 who accepted Christ as their Savior. “When this was started, I don’t think most people realized this many lives would be touched and this many churches would be ministered to as their teenagers were encouraged and prepared to be a bold witness for Christ,” Maltempi said. “Kids are able to focus on God and for a couple of days are … [Read more...]
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